Pattern sorting device



April 20, 1937. A. H. MAscHMEYl-:R 2,078,090

PATTERN SORTING' DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 15 Sheets-Sheet l Q' LL INVEN'TOR A.H. MASGHAMEYER Hls A'r RNEY April 20, 1937. A. H. IVIASCHNIEYEF;v 2,078,090

PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 l5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A.H.MASGH MEYER HIS AT ORNEY A. H. MAscHMEYER 2,078,090

ATTERN SORTING DEVICE April 2o, 1937.

15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 24,11935 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR A.HMASGHMEYER I my@ HIS ATTONEY April zo, 1937;

A. H. MASCHMEYR PATTERN 's'oRTING DEVICE l Fild Jan. 24, 1955 FIG. 5.

1'5 sheets-sheetI 4 lNvENToR I A.H.MAscHMr-:YER

BYQ//'W HIS AT ORNEY April 20, l937 A. H. MAscHMEYl-:R 2,078,090

PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1935 15 Sheets-'Sheet 5 ENToR AH. SGHMEYER Hls A'r RNEY -April 20, l1937.

FIG. 7.

A. H. MASCHMEYER PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 l5 Sheets-Sheet 6 A.H.MASGH MEYER HIS ATTO EY April 20, 1937- A. H. MAscHMEYER 2,078,090

l PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 40 lO---i2 2 I LLLLLLLLLLLI A BIV FIG. IO.

INVENTOR A H. MASGHME YER HIS AT T RNEY April 2o, 1937.`

A. H. MASCHMEYER PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet 8 Q. l E. o o ab v N o 2 w om His ATTNEY Q LI.

INVENTOR A.H.MASGHMEYER MIMJ a 1955 15 Sheng-sheet s A. H. MAscHMEYr-:R

PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24,

April 20, 1937.

April 20, 1937- A. H. MASCHMEYER 2,078,090

PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. l5.

INVENTOR A.H.MASGHMEYER April 20, l937 A. H. MAsci-IMEYER 2,078,090

PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1955 15 Sheets-Sheet 1l FIG I6.

INVENTOR A.H, MASGHMEYER HIS ATT RNEY .Abril 20, 1937. A. H. MAscHMEYl-:R 20,078,090

PATTERN SORT ING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2,4, 1935 l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 FIG. I'Z

. INVENTOR A.H. MAFSGHMEYER lav/ZZ H15 'AT ORNEY April 20, 1937.l

FIG. I9.

FIG. 20.

A. H. MASCHMEYER PATTERN soRTNG DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1935 o ou l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR A.H.MA5GHMEYER April 2o, 1937.`

A. H, MASCHMEYER PATTERN SORTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, ,1955

15 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTOR A.H.MASGH MEYER HIS AT ORNEY April 20, 1937 A. H. MASCHMEYER PATTERN SORTINGDEVIGE Filed Jan. 24,- 1935 FIG. 25.

1'5 sheets-sheet 15 INVENTOR A.H.MASGHMEYR HIS ATT NEY Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATTERN SORTING DEVICE August H. Maschmeyer, Astoria, N. Y., assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application January 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,218

16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for sorting perforated cards such as are used in automatic calculating and adding machines. t

In known sorters, it is customary to sort cards according to the location of a single perforation, or in some cases a group of perforations, such groups being used in a code to represent a single character.

Such sorters are capable of sorting from one column at a time, though occasionally, for special purposes, machines are modied to include perforations in other columns.

An object of this invention is to provide a sorter which sorts the pattern punched in a card, rather than single characters. It is to be understood that the term pattern denotes the spatial arrangements of the perforations on a card which represent the data recorded on the card, while the term selected pattern denotes the spatial n arrangement of the perforations on selected areas of a card which represent the data recorded in these areas.

A further object is to enable punched cards to be automatically sorted in accordance with a number of dierent patterns or with a number of selected patterns during a single run of the cards.

Another object is to enable punched cards to be automatically sorted in accordance with a number of different patterns and selected patterns 3 during a single run of the cards.

A further object is to enable the patterns or selected patterns according to which the punched cards are sorted, to be sorted at will to permit the cards to be sorted according to any desired pat- 37, terns or selected patterns.

An additional object is to enable a single sensing operation to determine whether or not a card is to be sorted, whereby the cards may be successively sensed and either sorted in the proper card pockets or deposited in a reject pocket.

Another object is the provision of a sorter having a selecting mechanism for controlling a plurality of card pockets; the selecting mechanism being adjustable, so that cards of diierent patterns may be successively sensed and like patterns grouped in predetermined card pockets.

A further object is the provision of a card sorter for sorting card patterns in which desired colums of the selecting mechanism may be disabled at will.

Other objects will appear in the following specication:

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the front and 5,-, side of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the sensing mechanism.

Fig. 5 shows a card.

Fig. 6 is an isometric showing the selecting mechanism of the sorter.

Fig. '7 is a view of the sensing mechanism in section, the section being taken through 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a section showing the manually operable keys for elevating the major pins.

Fig. 9 is a section taken through 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section taken through ID-IIJ of Fig. 8. .l

Fig. 11 shows a minor pin carrier in disabled position.

Fig. 12 shows one minor pin carrier in operative position, and one in disabled position.

Fig. 13 shows first position of the vertical disabling link in reference to the minor pin carriers, prior to a disabling operation.

Fig. 14 shows a pair of minor pin carriers, one of which is disabled.

Fig. 15 shows the mechanism for disabling the minor pin slides in normal position.

Fig. 16 shows the mechanism for disabling minor pin slides moved to its first position prior to disabling minor pin slides.

Fig. 17 is an isometric showing the minor pin restoring bars.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic showing of the minor pins and major pins.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 show details of mechanism used in connection with minor pin setting mechanism, Fig. 19 being an elevation, partly in 'section, Fig. 20, a section taken through 2li-20 of Fig. 19 and Fig. 21 a top view.

Fig. 22 shows a modification of the invention adapted to be used in sorting 90 column cards.

Fig. 23 is a perspective of a key.

Fig. 24 represents a 90 column card.

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic representation of the 90 column sorter disabling mechanism.

A framework, partly shown in the various drawings, is mounted on a suitable stand and supports the card feeding, sensing and selecting mechan ism as well as the card pocket mechanism.

The card feeding means may be of any suitable type for successively projecting cards, one at a time, from a stock or supply into a mechanism for selecting card pockets, while the card pocket mechanism may be of any suitable type which operates to receive a card at the time the card v2".-reachas 1the pocket. Card feeding and card pocket mechanism suitable for u'se with the present invention are disclosed in patents to Lasker N0. 1,315,370, dated Sept. 9, 1919,- and 1,476,151, dated Dec. 4, 1923, though it is to be understood thatV other suitableI mechanism of the type mentioned, which is-well known in the punched card art, may, if desired, be employed.

The card feeding mechanism preferably of the kind disclosed in \th e above patents-feeds v,the

cards intoa sensing chamber, where th cards ciprocated laterally with every cycle of operation.

In each assembly there is a set of elements, referred to hereinafter as minor pins. The minor pins in each section may be manually set to correspond to the various card patterns to be sorted. The minor pins have laterally projecting lugs which cooperate with notches or recesses in a set of vertically reciprocated plates common to all sections, the lower ends of said plates being suitably formed to serve as card sensing pins. These plates are vertically displaced according to the pattern of the card being sensed, and for ease in identiiication will be referred to hereinafter as major pins. When the lugs of all minor pins in a section are aligned with the recesses in the major pins and the assembly reciprocates, the lugs enter the recesses in the major pins permitting that particular assembly to reciprocate a distance greater than its usual path and thus operate a Bowden wire which controls the gate ofa card pocket. 'I'he gate of the card pocket selected by the sensed card is timed to open at the time the sensed card reaches it, thereby insuring that the card will be deposited in the proper card pocket. It will be understood that each time a card is sensed, that the major pins, or card sensing pins, are themselves sensed by a cross combing action of the minor pins and their respective carriers.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4, and 7 of the drawings: A shaft I0 driven by a suitable source of power has mounted thereon a number of cams, of which cam II; (Fig. 4) engages a roller I2 on a cross member I3, connecting plates I4 and I5, which form sides of a sensing box. The rotation of the cam causes the pin box to reciprocate vertically permitting sensing pins I6 to rise under the influence of compression springs I'I and enter perforations in plates forming a card sensing chamber I8. Suitably driven pairs of feed and skid rollers I9 coolrate with a picker knife in a manner well known in the art, to feed cards into the sensing chamber I8 while other pairs of skid and feed rollers 20 feed the card after it passes through the sensing chamber toward card pockets.

Suitable card stop mechanism, not shown, is used in connection with the mechanism just described to arrest the movement of the cards and hold them in the sensing chamber while they are being sensed.

A framework', including end plates 22, 23, 55, and 56 is mounted over the sensing pin mechanism. The lower part of the framework is divided by a series of fiat horizontal strips 24 into a number of sections, each of which controls a card pocket through the medium of a Bowden wire 200 (Fig. 6) as will be described in detail later. Plates 24 are provided with recesses 25 vvbetween the upper parts ofthe frame plates serve as pivots for pawls 32, there being one pawl for each major pin 28. Rods 33 are supported between slides 30 and serve as stops for pawl springs 34 (Fig. 8), and also to disengage the pawls from notches 35 in the major pins, when slides 30 are reciprocated by means of bar 30'.

A third series of rods 36, there being one rod for each row of major pins, is mounted in the frame so that a rod is situated alongside the upper ends of each row of major pins. Said rods serve as supporting pivots for keys 31, there being one key for each major pin. The lower ends 38 of said keys 'are positioned toengage the underside of pins 39 in the major pins, when the upper portion 40 of said keys which project through slots 4I in the top plate 42 are manually rocked in a clockwise direction. The tops 40 of the keys in alternate rows are bent to provide more space between keys. Moving any key in this manner, elevates the major pin associated therewith until pawl 32 engages notch 35 retaining the major pin in an elevated position. The purpose of this operation will be explained shortly.

Springs 49 (Figs. 11 and 12) are provided to hold the minor pin carriers 60 and prevent them from'risng when the minor pins are being elevated. ,y

'Ihe card gate control mechanisms lying between each of the groups of plates 24 are identiand, therefore, a description of one such mechanism will suflice for all.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, on opposite sides of the selecting unit, between each horizontal group consisting of a pair of bars 5I and 52, which are connected by cross members 53, and 54, the latter serving to support a series of minor pin carriers 60.

In Fig. 3 bars 5I and 52 are shown supported for longitudinal movement by suitable bearings in Aof plates 24 lies a laterally moving framework a card, (Fig. 18) and a. minor pin 6I on each carrier for each major pin 26 of the column. The minor pin carriers in the present embodiment are provided with a U-shaped notch 62 for retaining each minor pin. 0n each minor pin lthere is a pair of rounded studs 63 (Figs. 6 and 13) which t rather closely into notches 62 supporting the pins and permitting them to reciprocate in a ver- 40 cal physically, and all perform like functions,

of a turned over section. Lug 50 is of such size that it projects out from the minor pin far enough to engage at times the edges of the adjacent major pins and to enter a notch 5|' in v'one of these pins when the parts are brought into register.

Referring now to Figs. 2, and 11 to 14, inclusive, these drawings show an arrangement by which the minor pins may be set according to the patuerns of a series of cards. In Fig. 2 vertical bars 65, shaped so as to follow the inner contour-of the selector frame are free to reciprocate vertically in suitable guides. Springs 66 tend to hold the upper end of bars against an arm of a bell crank 61: the other arm of said bell crank being connected by a link and pin connection to buttons 68 on the outside of the machine. There is a bar 65 and a button 68 for each column on the card to be sensed. (See Fig. l and Fig. 6.) Each bar 65 carries a series of studs or pins 10, each of which acts on an inverted V-shaped cam 1|, formed in plates 12 which reciprocate in slots 13 in end plate 55 (Figs. 6, ll and 12).

During machine operation bar` 30 and bars 30 are locked in depressed position by means of a slide 3, having notches 4, (Figs. 8 and 10) which is supported by screws 5 that pass through slots 6 into the frame. Springs 1 and notches 8 cooperate to retain bar 3 in either of two positions,

in one of which bars may reciprocate and pawls 32 may catch any operated major pin, which is the position shown in Fig. 10.

When bar 30 is depressed and handle 2 on slide 3 moved to the right, bars 30 are locked in depressed position by means of slide 3 passing through a notch in bar 30 as indicated by dotted lines in the drawings. In this position pawls 32 are held out of contact with the major pins.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that each major pin 26 is provided with an identical series of recesses, there being a recess in each, which, when said pins are in normal lowered position lies approximately midway between the horizontal divisions of the structure formed by the respective assemblies of strips 24.

Plates 12 (Figs. 11 to 14) are used for elevating or lowering slides 60 from one horizontal plane to another plane parallel therewith. Each plate 12 is provided with a slot `14 having an upwardly extending tooth 15 which engages astep 16 formed on one end of sliding member 11 having wedge shaped cams 18 formed on its upper surface that engage corresponding cams 19 formed on the under surfaces of slides 6|). As shown in Fig. 6, suitable guide ways and stops are provided for members 11, such as comb-shaped strips 80. Springs 8| connect one end of each member 60 with the corresponding end of member 11, while the opposite endsof members 11 are connected by a somewhat stiffer spring 82 to the corresponding plates 12. The operation of the mechanism just described will be explained below.

Each plate 12 carries a latch 43 -`(Figs. 13 and 14) pivoted thereto by pivot 44. Spring 45 normally holds the latch against a pin 46 in 12 so that the latch toe 41 engages the end of a recess cut in the frame thereby preventing the member 12 from following the pin 10 in the first part of the restoring operation described below, (Fig. 12) During certain operations where slide 12 is forced toward the left by pin 10 passing down the righthand side of cam 1|, the latch is rendered ineffective by pin 10 engaging arm 48 of the latch rotating the same counter clockwise on its pivot against the tension of spring 45. Since the latch has no other function than that described, it is thought that reference to the same will be unnecessary hereinafter.

A cam 85 on main shaft I0 (Figs. 2 and 7) once each cycle, depresses arm 96 pivoted on shaft 81. elevating links 92, one of which is loosely pivoted to each end of shaft 90.

Each link 92 is supported for vertical reciprocamounted on shafts |10 and |13 (Figs. 3, 6 and 21) which extend through ends of each set of members 5| and 52. Spring 93 (Fig. 2) which retracts 92 is stronger than the combined effect of springs 58 and 59 on members 5| and 52 respectively, and therefore it will be understood that the train of mechanism just described causes the reciprocation of all members 5| and 52, the extent of said reciprocation being limited in certain cases by the minor pin setting which will now be described.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, it is possible to sort ten or less different card patterns from a stack of cards. Obviously, the machine might be constructed to sort a greater number of patterns if required.

Assume that the machine is set so that all minor pins 6| rest in their lower or normal position with all pin carriers 60 in their lower positio as shown in Fig. 13.

Under these conditions if blank cards were fed into the machine, all major pins would remain in their lower position, and at the point in the cycle where bell cranks 96 are rotated by links 92, each pair of bars 5| and 52 can travel their maximum distance on the return stroke due to springs 5B and 59, since all minor pin lugs 50 are aligned so as to enter the corresponding notches 5| in the major pins.

In preparing the machine `for making an entirely new set-up, it is necessary to restore any minor pin carriers which have been disabled, (that is, elevated by members 11, as shown particularly in Fig. 1l), to their lower position, as shown in Fig. 13.

In order that all plates 12, regardless of their position, may be moved to the extreme right, it is necessary that all bars 65 be moved away from frame 55 (Fig. 2) in such a manner that pins 10 follow a horizontal path, at the end of which they and the bars 65 are forced to their extreme downward position. This causes the pin 10 to engage the outer faces of cams 1| on slides 12, thus causing said slides, as well as slides 11 to move to their extreme position to the right, as shown in the upper section of Fig. 14. The following mechanism is used for this purpose:

In order to produce uniform parallel motion of the various parts about to be described, the restoring mechanism is duplicated on opposite sides of the machine, the corresponding parts being connected where required by bail bars extending across the machine.

Referring to Figs. 1, l5 and 16, it will be understood that crank |05 is fixed to shaft |34 which is free to turn in suitable bearings in Wings |35 on opposite sides of the machine, so therefore bail bars |30 and |32, described below, are connected between like bell cranks, and that any movement of crank |05 is communicated by shaft |34 to a like mechanism on the opposite side of .Y the structure.

Referring to Fig. 15 which shows the restoring mechanism in its normal position:-When crank is moved in a clockwise direction in this figure, pin/|20 carried by link |01 engages a bll crank shap ed member |2| having a slot |22 in one arm in engagement with pin |23 fixed to the frame. Pln |24 in the apex of the bell `\crank is free to follow a partly arcuate supportstopped by pin |23.

ing slot 25 in the frame. The other arm of the bell crank supports a link |21 provided with slots at opposite ends which ride freely on shoulder screws |28 threaded into |2|. Spring |29, one end of which is fastened to a pin in |2| and the other end to |21, tends to shorten the extensible arm of the bell crank just described. Bail bar |30 extends a'cross the machine through slots |,3| in the upright bars 65.

Bailbar |32 secured to bell cranks |36 similar to |30, extends through slots |33 in the lower ends of bars 65.

Bell cranks |36 are connected to links |01 in such a manner as to reproduce the movement of bell cranks |2|. This connection consists of pin |40 in link |01 which rides in slot |4| in one arm of bell crank |42, pivoted to frame by stud |43. Link |44 connects |42 with bell crank |45 pivoted to frame by stud |46, the latter bell crank having a slotted arm |41, said slot passing over a pin |48 on slotted slide |49 which is arranged to be reciprocated by the bell crank on studs |50 and |5| in the framework.

Slide4k |49 carries a stud |52 which engages an arm of bell crank |36 causing the latter to move in the same manner as bell crank |2|.

Pin |20 in link |01 'engages bell crank |2| at substantially the mid-point between slot |22 and pin |24 which rests in slot |25 in the frame. Part of slot |25 is straight and substantially horizontal, and the part to the left of the drawing is arc-shaped, pin |23 being the center of the arc. This arrangement is followed in all four bell cranks of this type. Since pin |24, from its position of rest as shown in Fig. l5, travels a horizontal path on the rotation of crank |05, and slot |22 in |2| is parallel thereto and guided by pin |23 fixed to the frame, it follows that the vertical arm of |2| will be moved tothe left (Fig. 15) while for a time still maintaining its horizontal position. Likewise other bell cranks |36 will be similarly moved, and bars 65 connected thereto by bail bars |30 and |32 will be moved to the left during the initial movement of crank |05. As the rotation of |05 progresses, further movement of slot |22 in |2| will be At this point pin |24 has just reached the arcuate section of |25, whereupon pin |24 and bail |30 will tend to describe concentric arcs Iwith pin |23 as a center, but the arcuate motion of bail |30 will be limited by bar 65 engaging the forward edge of its guides (Fig. 15), whereupon the reminder of the rotary movement of bell crank |2| will cause spring |29 to yield, permitting the slide |21 to lengthen the arm of the 'bell crank, thus forcing downward which causes pins 10 carried thereby to engage the forward parts of cams 1| forcing slides 12 to the extreme right, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, restoring all minor pin carriers to their lower'or operative position.

When crank |05 is turned from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 15, the motion is communicated by link |01 and bell crank |08 to a bar |09 which is forced downward. Bar |09 is connected to a similar bar ||2 (Fig. '7) by a series of bail bars ||3 (Fig. 17). These bail bars in turn, at their ends, carry short bail arms ||4 which are pivoted on studs ||5 secured to angular supporting members l|6, both of the latter being disposed on the same side of the machine. On the opposite side of the machine (Fig. 15) is a pair of members similar to ||'6 and these provide means for pivoting the ends of a similar set of links ||4 which have their opposite ends pivoted to bail bars ||1 which correspond to I3. Bail'bars ||3 and ||1 are connected by restoring bars ||8, one of which overlies each row of minor pins. In the construction just described, when bar |09 is forced downward by crank |05 all bars ||8 move therewith with a mutually parallel motion and each bar ||8 engages the tops of the minor pins which have been elevated for the previous selection and depresses them to their lower or unselected position.

As previously stated, the bars5l and 52 are normally reciprocated by means of vertical members 92, bell cranks 96 and compression springs 58I and 59.

For certain purposes, particularly when set-` ting up the machine, it is necessary to reciprocate the bars 5| and 52 in each section individually. For this purpose, the following mechanism is provided to disconnect the bars from bell cranks 96.

Referring to Figs. 19, 20 and 21, disc 98 is mounted on a rod |10 extending through 5|. Spring .1| serves to hold collar |12 in normal position "against 5| so that 98 is in position to engage 96. for the disc 98 associated with bar 52, consisting of a supporting rod |13, having a collar |14 which is held against 52 by means of spring |15 and collar |16. A rod |18 is provided to connect button or key |19 to both mechanisms. This rod is merely an extension of key |19 which moves endwise when the key is pressed, and blocks |80 and |8| thereon are for the purpose of ensuring the transmission of any movement of the key when the shafts |1|, |13 and |18 are not aligned. By means of the mechanism just described, discs 98 may be pressed out of alignment with bell cranks 96, thus permitting the bars 5| and 52 to snap rearward under the iniluence of compression springs 58 and 59, as will be clear from inspection of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. l, 3 and 6:-.Bars 5| and 52 may be restored from their disconnected position tonormal position as follows:

Each of said bars is provided with a recess |6| through which a frame supported round bar 62 extends, the part which passes through said notches being half-round, with the flat face normally positioned so as not to interfere with the reciprocatlon of bars 5| and 52, or the assembly carried thereby. When bars |62 are rotated, the rounded section engages the vertical faces of recesses |6| camming said bars back to their normal position where the discs thereon are again retained by bell cranks 96.

- A crank |63 is attached to an end of each bar 4 |62, and bar I 64 connects the ends of said cranks,

while link |65 connects |64 to a crank |66. With this arrangement, when crank |66 is operated, any or all of bars 5| and 52 will be reset.

Assuming that the various parts of the machine have been restored to a normal position by crank |05, then any section may be set up to select a card pattern by pressing the key |19 in the desired section which releases members 5| A similar arrangement is provided and 52 from bell cranks 95 permitting the particular assembly to move to its extreme position. sincef'all minor pin lugs are aligned with corresponding recesses on the major pins. Wherever a perforation occurs in the card pattern about to be set up, the corresponding keys 40 in the top of the machine are operated, elevating the associated major pins, and also the minor pins, since the lugs of the latter are resting in the recesses in the major pins. When the set-up has been completed in one section, crank |66 is operated, and the half-round bars connected thereto restore members and 52 to their normal position, withdrawing the minor pins from the slots in the major pins. The minor pins which have been elevated retain their position due to the springs 64 engaging notches 65.

Before starting to set up a new card pattern in another section, all major pins that have been elevated are released from their latches 32 by pressing bar 30' connecting bars 30, which causes shafts 33 to strike the tops of latches 32, causing them to withdraw from notches 35.

The remaining sections of the machine may be set up as described above.

yAt times, it may be desirable to sort for less than the entire number of possible perforations in a card. In such a case parts of the various sections may be disabled so that the position of the minor pins in the disabled part of a section has no effect on the operation' of the laterally reciprocating elements in that section.

'I'he disabling operation consists of elevating the minor pin carriers 50 for the columns which are to be ineffective, so that cross members 53 and 54 reciprocate freely in the openings 213 and 214 in minor pin carriers 60.

'I'he lower minor pin carrier in Fig. 13 is shown positioned prior to disabling, with cross members 53 and 54 positioned toward the left, that is, the cross members are in the position into which they move when the button |19, corresponding to this section, has been pushed, and the members 5| and 52, as described in detail above, accordingly released. Now, if button 53 associated with bar 55 in the drawing is pressed, bar 65 is forced downward and stud carried thereby engages the right-hand face of cam 1| forcing member 12 toward the left causing the cam tooth 15 of member 12 to engage member 11, and, since minor pin carrier 50 is restrained from further movement to the left by the cross member 54, cams 18 are forced under the cam surfaces formed on the under side of 60, elevating 60 to its disabled position shown in the lower half of Fig. 14, where it remains until a different set-up is made. Incidentally. with the disabling of a `column, since the minor pin lugs were previously moved into the recesses in the major pins by the release of members 5| and 52, all major pins in the column will be elevated and latched in their upper position in the same manner as though the keys 40 for that column were operated. However, this has no eilect on the machine, since such keys are released when bar 30' is pressed prior to setting up another section. u

When the laterally moving assembly of cross members 53 and 54 is restored by crank |66, after the setting up of a section has been completed, the mechanism of the disabled columns occupies the position shown in Fig. 11, so when the machine is in operation, the disabled minor pin carriers are prevented from reciprocating but the bars 53 and 54 are free to reciprocate, since they are aligned with and may freely pass through openings 213 and 214 in minor pin carriers 60.

The card pocket and conveying mechanism is preferably the same as that described in the above Lasker patents, though obviously, the selecting mechanism disclosed herein might be applied to other apparatus. Such mechanism is well known to those familiar with the punched card art. Referring to Figs. 3, 6 and 17, the sheaths of Bowden wires 200 are fastened into a suitable supporting member 20| so that a Bowden wire is positioned to be operated by a member 5| in each section.

Movement of the core of the Bowden wire transmits movement to a bell crank 202 (Fig. 1), causing the bell crank to rock about its pivot to extend a plunger 203 into the path of one of a series of tripping cams 204 mounted upon each of a series of tripping discs 205. There is a tripping disc for each pocket. All discs are mounted upon a tripping shaft 206, which is driven from the main shaft in such a way as to be synchronized with the sensing and selecting mechanism.

When a tripping cam 204 encounters an extended plunger 203, the cam moves radially out from the periphery of the "disc and is locked in its outward position. After the timing shaft, and the timing disc involved, have rotated a sutilcient amount, the tripping cam strikes an arm 201 causing the rotation of lshaft 208 upon which' said arm is secured. Shafts 208 carry card gates 209 (Fig. 3) so that the operation of the arm results in the opening of the gate.

Since plungers 203 are mounted in different positions, relative to the circumference of the disc, it is obvious that the time between the operation of a plunger and the operation of the associated card gate varies.P As clearly described in Patent No. 1,315,370, the construction is such that the time between the operation of a particular plunger and the associated card gate is equal to the time required for the transporting rollers 20 and 2|0 to convey the card from the sensing chamber to the gate.

From the above. it is seen that each card is separately sensed and deposited in a pocket with all other cards having the same pattern.

Cards bearing patterns which do not correspond to those set up in the various sections do not operate any of the card gates, and consequently pass into a discard pocket (not shown) at the end of the sorter.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 22 and 23. This modification differs from that just described in that it is particularly adapted for sorting so-called 90 column cards indicated generally by Fig. 24. The modification consists of using a pair of independent minor pin carriers for each column. By this arrangement, either half of a column may be disabled, while the other half is active. Only two views of this modification are shown, since the operation and structure is practically the same as that of the machine described herein in detail, the diierence being that the minor pin carriers are only halfcolumn long and a separate disabling mechanism is provided for each minor pin section. l

Referring particularly to Fig. 22, bar 5|` is shown provided with a recess, at'substantially its midpoint through which extends the half-round bar |62 which is used for restoring the laterally moving assembly in the same manner as the previous modification.

Bars 5|, and 52 (not shown) are connected by square cross members 53, 54, 53' and 54', each 

